Country Mike Blog

Memory Lane Mondays: Chely Wright

Mike Sudhalter  |  August 29, 2011

"The Love That We Lost" was one of my favorite country songs of the late 1990's

Few songs are good enough to record on two studio albums, but "The Love That We Lost", by Chely Wright was one of them.

The song is so poetic, eloquent and emotional.

I actually heard it on Wright's 1999 album, "Single White Female," but then found out it was on her 1996 sophomore album, "Right in The Middle Of It."

I picked up that album shortly thereafter, and was very impressed.

"Alligator Purse" is one of the catchier songs of that era, and "Listenin' To The Radio" is another fun song.

In 2007, I was fortunate enough to be a guest at Wright's Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit for Music Education programs in public schools, at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville.

Guests at the event included Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler

Wright's helped so many people through the program, including this this Arkansas Teacher

Of the current generation of country artists, few can tell a story as well as Wright - especially on songs, like "Emma Jean's Guitar", on her 1997 album, "Let Me In."

It would be great to hear more music like this on the radio today. All of the rural anthems are cool, and I know it gets people ready to party.

But introspective, well-written ballads - such as "Bumper of My SUV" are something that have gone away on country radio, so let's hope they make a comeback.

Country superstar Kenny Chesney performed before 59,000 fans at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Would that many people have stood outside to watch him in the snow, like they did at old Foxboro Stadium to watch the Patriots defeated the Oakland Raiders in January 2002?

I, for one, only would have stood outside in the rain to hear Chesney sing "(Don't That Make You Wanna) Fall In Love" and some of his other 90's hits.

Which country artist would you like to see featured on "Memory Lane Mondays"?